Omaha daily bee., 1887-04-23

SeuhNiy uS tuhSh w SbNSA its
~.
Except the military operation on the
Afghan frontier, there have been no de.
velopments during the week to justify
fresh apprehensions of var. On the con-
trary the action of the Austrian cabinet,
the emperor presiding, in declaring that
extreme measures for defense are no
longer necessary owing to the peaceful
aspect of affairs, is regarded as in the
highest degree reassuring. Some poiti.
cal significance is sought to be gwen by
the Paris papers to the arrest of a special
French commissary by German police
commissioner, on the alleged ground
that the commissary was an anti
German agitator, but there does
not appear to be anything in the
affair likely to seriously disturb the
peaceful relations of the two countries.
Neither is the bid of Russia for an inter-
national loan regarded in Europe as
menacing circumstance. The most
trustworthy expression is that the peace
OF Europe is not IN any danger at present.
NV
The petroleum interest OF the United
States will be greatly interested IN the
report that the Rothschilds of Paris have
invested two million pounds sterling in
the petroleum business which centers at
Baku, and already have hundred tank
steamers running on the Caspian sea,
with another ten ordered TO be con-
structed this year. The latest report in
connection with the business is that a pipe
line COO miles in length is being planned
to carry the oil from Baku to Batum, the
port on the Black sea which was closed
by Russia about year ago.
The competition of Russian with Amer.
lean oil is already so close as to have
caused large decline in the selling value
of the article. while the cheapness of the
former has reduced the price for seal and
whale oils in the Russian markets to little
more than onethird of what they sold at
few years ago. The oil fields of Bur-
mah which have recently been annexed
by Great Britain, are estimated to be
equal to the supply of the present con-
sumption of India, with liberal quaint.
ity to spare for China. The annual pro-
duction of crude mineral oil, which is
now estimated at fully 1900, 100000 gal
Ions, may be expected to rise speedily to
2,OOO, 900, 900 gallons and the result may
be revolution not only in some de-
partments Of commerce, but also in man.
ufactures. GN
x**
The annual reports of the mine in
spectors of Great Britain for 1886 show
that 561 ,092 persons were employed dur
ing the year in and about mines. More
ployed above the ground. The casual
ties dealt with by the expert statisticians
present painful picture. Take the coal
mines with about half million workers.
There was one fatal accident for every
GA employees, and one death tor every
545 persons employed; 2lO66 tons of
mineral were wrought for each fatal &C.
cident, and lis, 391 tons for every death,
as compared with 214, ,651 and 15O, 629 tons
respectively In. the preceding
year. On the whole the state.
ment of accidents and deaths compares
favorably with the record in the past ten
years. Each year presumably sees some
advance in the use of precautions, and
rather more thoughfulness, it is to be
hoped, on the part OF mine owners and
managers. But AT best the story is
pitiable one, in spite Of the mines regula.
ton act framed to make the life of these
working people more tolerable than it
used to DO.
Gatchiuo, which is the only place in
Ri1coio yyhoro tho 10
to be safe from the attacks of
the nihilists, owes its existence
to Peter the Great. who constructed the
chateau there for his sister Natalie. 1t
has been hitherto chiefly celebrated for
its kennels. At present this retreat of
the czar is guarded with excessive rigor.
The roads which terminate at Gatchina
are patrolled by soldiers, who stop all
passers.by and ask for their papers. The
railroad station is equally guarded, al.
though it is only used for trains for the
members of the household. People who
do not belong to the imperial
service cannot enter or depart from
these trains at the Gatchina station.
Around the park wall there IS a chain of
sentinels, who are placed seventy-five
feet apart, and they in turn are relieved
every hour. SO that there can be no re.
laxing in the vigilance of the guard. Ad.
mission to the park and the chat eau is
not permitted, not even to the servants
or tho employees of the imperial cabinet.
except upon the presentation of an ad-
mission card, whose color is changed
every eight days. More than this. the
people living in the chateau. no matter
what may be their rank at court, are for.
hidden to shut the doors of their apart.
ments either night or day. General
Richter, who has charge of the imperial
troops at Gatchina, and General Tscher-
win, chief of police of imperial safety,
have the right to enter any one of these
chambers when they please in order to
make any search they may deem neces.
sary. 81,
~
A good deal of lsolicitude is felt in
regard to the health OF the Brown Prince
of Germany. His throat IS said to be in
bad condition. There is a prophecy in